Julian Michaels (Bruce Willis) is the wealthy creator of VICE, a resort using androids as conduits for people’s wildest fantasies. His venture has been a huge success.
Someone disturbed by its possibilities is cynical cop Roy (Thomas Jane). Determined to shut VICE down, he sees his chance when meeting Kelly (Ambyr Childers). An android who has escaped the facility, she holds the key in destroying Michaels’ sinister operation once and for all.
VICE is one of those films that actors do just for the money. They turn up and say their lines with minimal effort while waiting for the paycheck. That would explain the lifeless performances, especially from Willis. He’s really slumming it with only Jane showing vague signs of life with his over the top performance. Willis does his diminishing reputation no favours appearing in D Grade knock-offs such as this.
Brian A Miller’s direction highlights VICE’s amateurish nature. Failing to generate any excitement or add flair to a predictable and poorly written script, his efforts amount to little. The action sequences occasionally enliven proceedings, making one momentarily forget the plot’s numerous holes.
VICE’s biggest crime is it does nothing with the concept. The idea of androids infiltrating everyday life is intriguing although the screenplay virtually ignores this in favour of tedious car chases. In the end VICE quickly falls apart as it races towards its merciful conclusion.
VICE is a junky effort by all concerned who should be embarrassed their names are associated with it. Not even good enough for ‘pizza and coke’ viewing, it’s a rotten slice of cinema easily earning a place in the halls of cinematic shame.
Reviewed by Patrick Moore
Twitter: @PatrickMoore14
Rating out of 10: 0
VICE will be released on 18 March 2015 on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital Download.
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